Chapter 23: Fight for His Life

David spent the next several hours at a different training ground practicing his sword. He already needed to clear his head after the conversation with Maria, but now with Sovern dead he needed to relax. He was still too worked up. He was afraid he would spark another fight if he went around looking like he did, staring at Vampires with his eyes full of malice. When he had finally worked out enough to feel better, he headed back to Alice's office. She once again apologizes for what she did, but David waved her off, saying she apologized enough for a day, he just wanted to get to work. There was a stack of papers as high as David was just for transfer requests, requests for joint training, and a variety of other things David had to handle. It was a mess. But David kept trudging through it, and with Alice's help it went much faster.

However, while David and Alice were working diligently, somewhere else unbeknownst to David, there was a secret meeting being held between two robed figures. 

"Did you bring the information?" 

"I did." One hands the other a few papers. He looks through them quickly. 

"Will this be enough?" 

"It should be enough to at least put him away for a while." He looks through the papers a bit more and then smiles evilly. 

"Well then I'd better get started." He said as he left the dark alley where the deal took place. As soon as he left the other man talked quietly to himself. 

"Finally, that brat will learn his place!" He laughs to himself as he too leaves the alley.

It has now been 3 days since he had the talk with Maria, he was still working through the mountains of paperwork he had with Alice, things had also completely thawed between them and gone back to normal, although Alice still hesitated a little before teasing David now, even though he had repeatedly told her he wasn't mad at her and to stop worrying. He was also trying to come up with a plan for what to do when he had his day with Maria, he didn't know what to do with her because all he really did with Alice was just sit around and chat, they would sometimes play games but it was not as if they ever "went out" anywhere like he would have with his friends back in his old world. This world was rather entertainment starved too, so it's not like there were many options of things to do. But while he was thinking these thoughts there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Alice said without looking up from her work. 

"I apologize for the interruption princess, but I have come to take Paladin David Williams into custody." A soldier said as a few other fully armed soldiers entered the room. Alice stands up immediately. 

"For what charge!" She yells. 

"He is currently under suspicion for the murder of 11 vampire soldiers under the employ of House Velma and a Knight Sovern." The soldier said as he nodded to the others to grab David. David doesn't resist and lets himself get caught. 

"You don't have the authority to accuse a Paladin!" Alice yelled at the soldier, panicked. 

"It's not up to me ma'am, I'm just following orders. On my honor I promise he will not be mistreated, but he must be kept under close watch while preparations for the trail are underway." 

The soldier then nodded to the soldiers to escort David away, to David's surprise the soldiers aren't rough with him, they are insistent, but they seem to treat him with a modicum of respect. As David was being led out Alice from behind him called. 

"David, just wait for me! I'll figure out what is happening and come find you!" David smiled to himself as he left the room, he felt happy knowing his friend would try to help him, but the issue was that he did indeed kill all those people. If they had actual evidence to prove it, he would be done for. Perhaps this was retribution for all the death's he has caused? His life here had been hard and short, but at least he had met Alice, she had turned at least a part of this dreary world just a bit brighter. 

"No, I refuse to think like that, I promised myself I would not roll over and give up. I will fight this to the end. I will do what I have to." David thought to himself as he was being led away.

David was escorted out of the Palace and into the prison. But they keep walking him past the hundreds of cells until they end up in a section that does not resemble the rest of the prison, instead there are a bunch of finely crafted wooden doors. They lead him inside and he sees a small but well-furnished room. It reminded him of a hotel room. It had a bathroom, a bookshelf with a handful of books, a small kitchenette, a nice bed, and a table and chairs for eating and for receiving guests. Overall it was a rather nice room. Once the soldiers have brought him into the room, they bow out and lock the door behind them from the outside.

"I suppose being a Paladin has some privileges." David said as he sat down on the bed. 

"This must be the place they bring nobles charged with a crime or high ranking political prisoners. Not that I'm complaining, I've slept on enough straw bedding to know I don't like it." David said as he laid down on the bed.

The question is how did they find out about the forest killings? He had made sure that the Duke handed over all the evidence, unless he kept some hidden for himself, they shouldn't have any proof. As far as him killing Sovern goes, he was in a secluded area, there were no witnesses, that was why he was brought there in the first place. But even if someone did see him, as a Paladin killing a Knight, he had the higher authority, after all the knight attacked him with the intent to kill him. So, he was in the right, overall he should be able to get out of this easily. But still something did not sit right with him.

After a few hours of sitting around in his room he heard people talking outside. 

"P-princess? What are you doing here?" 

"Open the door." He heard Alice say from outside. 

"Princess, we have strict orders not to let anyone to..." 

"I said OPEN THE DOOR!" Alice said furious. There was a moment's silence before the door opened and Alice came walking through. 

"David, we need to talk. Tell me what happened."

They sat down at the table and David told her the story with Sovern, how he was being bullied and how he tried to kill him. 

"Why didn't you tell me!" Alice said angrily. "In case you haven't noticed I am the princess! If someone was treating you poorly I could have them removed or at least moved out of the Palace." David looked away. 

"I couldn't keep relying on you, if you handled them then others would have taken their place, it was something I had to resolve alone. Besides I knew you'd worry." 

"You're damn right I would worry!" Alice snaps back. She then sighs loudly. "Well because of your macho attitude, things have blown up rather quickly." She said as she turned to face David. 

"The trial is set to occur in 3 days." She said, a bit annoyed. 

"Three days? Wow, three days is hardly enough time to prepare a defense, what a corrupt justice system." David said rather aggravatedly, he didn't necessarily need more time to prepare, but it was the thought that if he did, they wouldn't have given it to him that bothered him. 

"Well it's usually not this bad, but there is clearly some noble pulling the strings behind the scenes. Looks like you have some enemies." She said with a wry smile. 

"I'm going to be your defense, so I need you to tell me everything."

The next three days passed slowly, David was not treated poorly, his meals were rather luxurious overall, and his room was comfortable enough, but he still knew it was a cell, no matter how nicely it was done up, so it was hard for him to relax. He also did not see Alice again after the first day, perhaps she was being disallowed from visiting, or perhaps she was preparing his case, whatever it was he did not see her. Eventually he heard the door opening and 3 soldiers entered. 

"It is time sir." One of the soldiers said as David stood up and walked over to them. 

"I apologize sir, but can you give me your hands." David understood the intent immediately and put both arms out in front of him. The soldier then locks his hands into a really thick pair of handcuffs. No, handcuffs were not the right term, shackles were right. Shackles heavy and thick enough that even a vampire couldn't break out.

David then was escorted out of the Prison and into yet another part of the Palace he had never seen before. He entered through two doors and saw what looked like a "modern" courtroom, except the spectators, who were all nobles, were sitting on raised platforms on the second floor. Perhaps because it was a military incident, or perhaps because it was affecting a Paladin, but the King was presiding over the trial, however a judge oversaw handling it in his presence. After he entered and was escorted to a stand for the accused the trial began. 

It took almost 2 hours, during which Alice proved to be a capable orator, which was amazing to see. To add on to that, the defense's case was weak, and the only evidence they had amounted to hearsay and 3 papers "connecting" him to the murders in the forest, by the time 2 hours was up, it looked like a forgone conclusion. It was clear he and Alice had won. 

There was no jury like a trial like he was used to, the judge had the only and final say on what the verdict would be. He was deciding what to say when a person walked up behind him and whispered into his ear. This was bad, a secret conversation like that could only spell doom. After a few moments the Judge then speaks. 

"The court finds that the defendant and the prosecutor did not prepare enough evidence for this trail to take place, thus the trail shall be put on hold indefinitely until both sides are ready. Thus, Paladin David shall remain in the prison warden's custody until further notice."

"This is really bad." Alice whispers from next to him. "If they put the trail on hold the noble pulling the strings can keep getting it put off, keeping you in the prison for a year easily." Alice looked very worried, however David's face was calm, he had known it may have come to this, he always knew the odds were going to be stacked against him, so he came prepared.

"I hereby proclaim this court session..." The Judge began before David stood up and cut him off. 

"Your honor, I hereby proclaim my right to a trial by combat." Everyone in the room, including Alice, was startled. The concept of a trial by combat was an archaic law that had not been used for nearly a millennium. The whole room was in an uproar while the Judge slammed his gavel multiple times to quiet down the room. 

"What are you doing?!" Alice whispers to David aggressively. He looks down at her completely serious. 

"I'm choosing my own fate; I refuse to be a prisoner any longer." He then turned back to the judge. David had known about this archaic law for a long time now, among the books Alice had given him were several criminal law books, skimming them he learned about the defendant's right to a trial by combat if certain conditions were met, such as having a high enough status, the evidence was not too damning, as well as a few other obscure rules. The second he walked into this courtroom he knew this was an option, he would have rather not used it, but he would rather die than be a prisoner any longer.

The Judge looks up at the King sitting behind him, who remains completely stoic. He then turns back to face the court. 

"The defendant has the right to proclaim a trial by combat! As such the accuser, Knight Reynold has the option to accept this challenge himself or substitute in someone for him. Reynold smiles wide. 

"I shall accept the trial myself, your honor." Reynold said as he looked over to David grinning madly. 

"Then the trial shall be concluded by combat in three days' time. Court is dismissed." He slams his gavel and then gets up to leave. 

"You just signed your own death warrant, human! I can't wait until I see you dead!" Reynold said as he laughed to himself while leaving. Alice looks panicked at David. 

"Why did you do that, you do realize that a trial by combat is to the death right?" 

"I do. My accuser is the other man who bullied me. So, I will kill him too, in front of everyone, and put a stop to anyone else trying the same thing again." David said seriously before turning to Alice and smiling. 

"Do you trust me?" Alice blinked a few times, perhaps to push away tears before responding. 

"Of course." 

"Then just believe in me." David was then escorted by the soldiers back to the cell where he was before. 

In the back of the noble's area sat a certain Duke, with a panicked look on his face. 

"This... this was not what was supposed to happen." Duke Frederick Velma thought to himself as David was escorted away. 

"I just wanted to bring that brat down a few pegs after getting so high and mighty. If he was locked in a cell for a year or more, he would quickly learn his place. And had we won the case I could have transferred the right of his detention to my custody and he would have been under my control again. But that bastard went out and got himself a trial by combat! Against a member of the Vampire Knights! There is no way that brat is going to live through this, but if he dies, my daughter will die. That little shit has just doomed them both, I have to do something about this!" And with that thought the Duke stormed off with the rest of the nobles.

The three days came and went and the time for the battle was nigh. David was once again being escorted by soldiers to the battlegrounds when Alice came up beside him. 

"Are you sure about this? I may still be able to get you out of this." Alice asked worryingly. David makes a move to pet her head to reassure her that it is okay only to realize his hands were still shackled. So, he just smiled at her. 

"Trust me, everything will be okay." He said as Alice must stop as he has now entered his half of the arena. 

"Otherwise, I'll be too dead to care." David thought as the soldiers unlocked his shackles, and handed him his belt with his sword and dagger. David knew what he had to do, this was the last adversary he had to face before he could live a normal life, before he could end all the bullying and get the respect he deserved.

This was not going to be easy, he was against one of the top knights in the Empire, Reynold was quite famed for his skill with the sword, perhaps that was why he bullied David in the first place. David's chances of being able to come out of this with a victory were slim, but he was not willing to accept anything other than victory or death. If his life had to end here, then it would have to be, he was done getting kicked around by nobles and knights who think they are better than him. He had to do this. There was a crowd surrounding the white stone stage, there were several knights, many soldiers and mostly nobles. Nearly everyone in the crowd was laughing and talking to each other about how this human was about to die quickly, no one, other than Alice, expected a different result. 

In the crowd Frederick Velma sat there worryingly, he didn't manage to stop the fight, he was running out of options. He palmed a stone in his hand. His only choice was to wait for the right moment to throw this stone and hopefully kill the knight with it. If not, perhaps he could get the fight called off from that. It'd ruin his reputation forever, but at least his daughter's blood bag wouldn't be dead, for that he would do anything.

David stepped up onto the stage where Reynold was already waiting.

"So, are you ready to die, Paladin?" Reynold said to David with an obvious sneer. 

"Just shut up and fight me." David said coldly to him as he drew his sword and threw his military jacket off the stage. 

"As you wish!" Reynold said as he lunged towards David lightning fast, David had just enough time to parry it at the last moment but still the sword cut his arm slightly. 

"I had heard that you used an unusual style, but I see now that It wasn't all it's cracked up to be." Reynold said with an evil grin. 

"How about instead of talking you test my skill yourself, we both know only one of us will be walking out of here." David said with an uncharacteristic smirk. 

"Very well," Reynold said with a small sigh. "I will enjoy breaking you before I finish you off!" He yelled as he rushed in to once again attack David.

The battle was fierce, although Reynold had the initiative for nearly the whole fight David was managing to hold his own, much to the spectators' surprise. However, the fight was taking its toll on David. He had been kicked, slashed and stabbed many times over, both of his legs were in pain and he could no longer move his left arm. He was pretty sure he had a fracture. On more than one occasion Reynold clearly avoided aiming for a vital spot to prolong the fight and continue hurting David, even to the spectators it was clear that Reynold was practically toying with David, even if he was putting up a great fight. In the audience both Alice and the Duke sat staring worryingly as David continued to get thrashed. 

After about 20 minutes, David was kicked hard in the gut, sending him flying back a few feet, dropping his sword in the process. David gasped for air as Reynold took a few steps towards him while he laughed. By now David was trembling, tears were beginning to stream down his face, He seemed to be cowering in fear from Reynold. David then slowly started to get up, his face in abject terror as he walked towards Reynold who only laughed louder. He could see that he had won, not that it was ever a question, but he could see that he had broken David's spirit, he could see it in his tear-soaked eyes. He had proven the superiority of the Vampire race, proven that this human didn't deserve to be given a position as high as his, and set the world back on the right path. It was time to end this. 

He raised the sword high above his head prepared to end this once and for all. The entire crowd braced for the final blow, staring at the sword about to lop off David's head, Alice looked away trying to hold back her tears, and everyone held their breath in anticipation. However, there was only one man who was looking at something else, Frederick Velma was about to jump up and throw the stone when he saw it. The knife being unsheathed by David and then, in a flash, being stabbed through Reynold's chin into his head. The whole crowd was stunned in silence, unsure of what happened as David, no longer fear stricken but instead with a cold expression on his face, held Reynold's twitching body up by the knife for a few seconds before letting it hit the ground. David stood there and watched his body twitch for a moment before wiping his tears away and turning around to walk off the stage, victorious.

From the beginning this was all a stage play David had performed. He knew that he had a next to 0% chance of actually winning in a sword fight with Reynold, he was simply too strong and fast for him. Of course, that didn't stop him from putting in his best effort at the beginning of the fight. He certainly tried to win that way, but it quickly became clear to him that it was not an option, so from that point forward he put on a show for Reynold. He rapidly began to withhold more and more of his strength as he let himself continually get more and more battered to give the appearance that he was losing strength. He knew that Reynold wanted to have him die slowly, so he didn't have to worry about dying while he was putting on his performance. So, he just kept letting himself get hurt. The fracture he received was something he had not prepared for, but it only made his act more convincing. Then came the final moment, when he let Reynold kick the wind out of him. He purposefully let the sword fly out of his hand. Then he put his acting skills to good use. To everyone who was watching, David was trembling, terrified with eyes full of fear, tears streaming down his face, as he slowly approached Reynold to possibly beg for his life. The truth was that was what he wanted them to see, however it was not as if it was all fake. 

By that point David was hurt far worse than he thought he would be, his whole body ached in pain causing him to tremble as he stood up, the kick to his stomach was far more painful than he had expected so the tears he had were from the pain, and the terror in his eyes was genuine. He knew that this was his only chance to win, he didn't have another recourse. If he failed here, he would die. It was as simple as that. And despite how resolute David felt earlier about choosing death over imprisonment, he was terrified of dying, and he could see death standing just behind Reynold as he held his sword high. But in a fight like this there was no other way to make someone like Reynold drop his guard than to give him the absolute victory he sought. Like all the other vampires before him, his weakness was that he was too prideful. However, David had no pride, he didn't care how it looked to others, if he was alive and his enemy was dead that was all that mattered to him.

As David left the stage the crowd got into an uproar, they clamored to get a better look at the stage where the now dead Reynold lay. They cursed David's name, they jeered him, they called him a cheater with no honor. But David didn't care, this fight to him had nothing to do with honor, it was a fight for his life. He did what he had to, to win. Alice ran over to him as soon as he was off the stage and hugged him, she was careful to avoid his left arm, but he still hurt when she hugged him. Still he needed this right now, so despite the pain he hugged her back. 

"You told me to trust you, but you didn't say you would get so hurt!" Alice said sobbing quietly. He hugged her a bit more tightly.

"I'm sorry." He said as he broke off the hug slowly. 

"You've been crying a lot more recently." He said, lightly teasing Alice. 

"And whose fault do you think that is!" She said, wiping away her tears and regaining her composure. 

"Sorry," David said as he rubbed her head. 

"I'll work harder, so you won't have to cry anymore." 

The fight was over, and despite the many objections from several of the onlookers David was declared the winner. He had been exonerated of his crimes. The case was officially dropped, and David could resume normal life. David needed time to rest though, he had to recover at least somewhat after getting such a beating. His promised day with Maria was tomorrow, but he was in no shape to do something with her. Alice promised to speak to Maria and get it pushed back, and David requested that he just be given 1 more week. As much as he hated to admit it, both Alice and Maria were right, one way or the other he needed to confront these feelings properly. So, the sooner he did the better.